harry reid could do that. not knowing the outcome. then the other scenario, which is gaining some sort of talking here is if they could extend it because congress is away next week and have the vote effectively a week from monday. give it a little more time. politically that's not so good for democrats. republicans would welcome that extra time. those who don't want to see hagel confirm think maybe in the intervening time something might surface that would tore meade pedohis nomination. this is a numbers game. this is a positioning game. trying to get more information. hagel is at the center of it, but it's about much more than just chuck hagel. andrea. >> let me just interject also, kelly, that there is an issue here. the defense ministers meet at nato next week in brussels. they want chuck hagel, the administration wants chuck hagel, the new defense secretary to be leading this going forward. they don't want to have to ask leon panetta, who is still the defense secretary, to go and lead the delegation as a lame-duck. chris, this get